A toast to the end of 2023 and I’m happy to turn the page.
Fourteen Things I Was Happy to Hear, This Year, On a Seshjawn
I ran up to Princeton for one last shop of 2023. But it also was a meeting with an old & best, Jeff Schwachter, for the first time at the record shop for over a decade.
It was a glutinous debacle for me, both at PREX, and PJs for brunch after. I had just went up 2 weeks ago and left behind a Jackie McLean collection and couldn’t properly assess the Traditional/NOLA Jazz collection. There is always a peaceful resonance of discovery, mystery and fulfillment when I collect.
The trip started out with good omens?? In the form of a black Mercedes driving up my ass with a Christmas tree lashed to the roof. I’m wondering which asshole is still getting a Christmas tree on 12/31/23 and he impatiently passes me. I’m not sure I loved him in front of me either, as the tree was attached with Christmas lights and his Dang3r license plate were ominously threatening. It felt like he was attracting the negativity, so I let some of mine go.
The rest of the trip was solid. I’m having lots of sentimentality around the holiday times so immersing myself in the stacks was a good break. And visiting with an old friend was good too. They still had the McLean collection, the Trad Jazz picking went just fine and my clarinet department upgraded considerably. Lots of great tenor players, a couple of rare Durutti Column, some piano cats and some mysterious variety. I’m set for a while.
Some quality hair in there too!
I decided to scope through 2023’s Seshjawn playlists and do a “Fourteen Things I Was Happy to Hear, This Year, On a Seshjawn” list.
Asha Puthli – “Wild Samurai”
“Cais” Milton Nasciemento, then Elis Regina
Sun Ra – “Lanquidity”
Xenia Rubinos – “Help”
Donald Byrd – “Poco-Mania”
Meshell Ndegeocello – “Clear Water”
Minnie Ripperton – “Completeness”
Brandon Acker/Reginald Mobley/ Henry Purcell – “Here the Deities Approve..”
Boozoo Chavis – “Oh Ho She’s Gone”
Tina Turner – “I Idolize You”
The Sylvers – “I Remember”
Johnny Jenkins– “I Walk On Guilded Splinters”
Hania Rani – “Don’t Break My Heart” ft. Duncan Bellamy
I’ll be bringing these songs with me to 2024, they certainly helped me through a 2023 of loss and challenge. Happy New Year!
Found Sounds 